Grim reminders

Today marks the first anniversary of the conviction of late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who was found guilty of murdering living babies after botched abortion procedures. Justice was served in that courtroom on May 13, 2013, but many Americans are appalled to find themselves barred from debating this vital health issue on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

A stalled Senate bill with 40 co-sponsors, called the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, would limit abortions in the United States after 20 weeks – the point at which studies have shown the unborn child has the ability to feel pain. The House passed a similar measure in June of last year, and several states have enacted their own version of the law.

But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid isn’t bringing it to the floor for debate.

In a little over two months the Irish will be marking an equally dark event – the passing of a bill in the Dail-Seanad (parliament) allowing the abortion of a child right up to the moment of birth. The abortion will be performed on the basis of a mother’s declaration, signed off by two medics, that she will take her own life unless she is allowed to abort the child. Both houses passed this legislation by a big majority of the parties forming the coalition government – albeit under a rigourous party whip. The few who voted according to conscience found themselves forced from their parties.

The Irish pro-life constituency is now gearing itself up to challenge the established parties and the party system which has now shown itself to be a strangler of conscience. Last week saw a demonstration of up to 20000 outside the parliament buildings reminding Taoiseach Enda Kenny that one year on, they hadn’t gone away. They were reminding him that as far as they were concerned he was no better than Kermit Gosnell. Under the law he passed, late-term abortions will carry no penalties. The majority of the charges on which Gosnell was convicted would be dismissed in an Irish court under the new law.

As far as a majority of Irish people is concerned Harry Reid callous disregard for the pain of the unborn child is well-matched by Enda Kenny.
Many look forward to going to the polls over the next few years so that they can tell him so.